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In Holan City,
As autumn arrived, the once lush trees began shedding their leaves, scattering them across the ground.
Only a few diligent street cleaners were sweeping the fallen foliage from the city streets; otherwise, the area appeared remarkably sparse of people.
Swish! Swish!
The sound of flapping wings echoed, accompanied by a gust of wind that swept away surrounding dust and leaves. Lian gracefully descended to the ground.
Kalia dismounted, dressed in snug athletic attire, her hair tied in a ponytail, wearing black protective gloves as she surveyed the surroundings.
"It's truly quiet here," Kalia murmured, noticing hardly anyone on the streets. It seemed Holan City relied primarily on its coastal fishing industry for economic development.
Originally, tourism had flourished in Holan City. However, due to an abundance of Poison-type Pokemon in the mushroom forest, despite the presence of rare and visually striking red mushrooms, the inability to control these Poison-types gradually led to the decline of tourism.
Lian glanced around, relieved he didn't need to return to his Poké Ball. With no one nearby, it was nice to breathe some fresh air occasionally.
The atmosphere in Holan City was crisp and invigorating, with clear blue skies providing a serene backdrop. Occasionally, a pleasant aroma wafted through the air from afar.
"Charizard, let's find our client now," Kalia said, following the address provided in the mission details as they headed towards the city center.
The client information was quite detailed, describing a middle-aged man who loved adventure. Although not originally from Holan City, he had been residing there recently. He discovered an ancient ruin but couldn't explore it alone, so he posted a task seeking skilled Trainers to accompany him on this expedition into the ruins.
Kalia swiftly arrived at the destination based on the given address and spotted a tall, burly man standing by the entrance, clearly waiting for her.
"Hello, I'm Kalia. Are you Uncle Bobby?" she politely asked as she approached him.
Bobby glanced at the young girl before him, slightly frowning. However, upon seeing the imposing Charizard beside Kalia, his expression relaxed.
"Yes, that's me." Bobby nodded, initially concerned about Kalia's young age and fearing her Pokemon might not be strong enough. But the sight of her Charizard eased his worries.
"It's great that you're here. You seem well-prepared; we can set off shortly." Bobby carefully examined Kalia, surprised to find her equipment quite comprehensive.
"Can you tell me about the ruins?" Kalia asked. She didn't want to blindly follow someone into dangerous territory without understanding it first; sufficient knowledge ensures safety.
"I discovered the ruins three days ago, deep within the mushroom forest. However, there's a high concentration of Poison and Bug-type Pokemon that are extremely hostile towards outsiders. When I initially found the ruins, I was overwhelmed by numerous Pokemon attacks and had to abandon further exploration. The ruins..." Uncle Bobby began explaining the details.
After listening for some time, Kalia grasped the situation. The ruins were hidden deep within the red mushroom forest, with a concealed entrance. Based on various clues, Uncle Bobby surmised that the ruins might be an ancient temple dedicated to a specific Legendary Pokemon.
As for which Legendary Pokemon, it remained unknown since Uncle Bobby couldn't explore fully before having to flee.
Prepared with antidotes and Paralyze Heals, Kalia and Uncle Bobby set off together. The mushroom forest is home to many Parasects, a combination of Grass and Bug-type Pokemon. These creatures often drop spores from their bodies, scattering them throughout the forest. One misstep could easily expose visitors to these spores.
"So this is the red mushroom forest."
Despite its name implying it consists solely of red mushrooms, there were also tall trees present. However, the abundance of red mushrooms gave the forest a predominantly crimson appearance from above.
"Let's go inside," Uncle Bobby said as he released his Pokémon, a Ground-type Sandslash. "When we encounter any Pokémon, engage them immediately. The Pokémon here tend to be highly hostile towards outsiders."
Sandslash excels at digging tunnels and can venture deep underground, making it an ideal companion for Bobby, who enjoys exploring ancient ruins.
Kalia didn't release additional Pokémon; one Charizard was sufficient. Having too many would only create clutter, as the vegetation within the mushroom forest is densely packed. Charizard just barely managed to navigate through, and more Pokémon would make it even more cramped.
"Charizard, take these with you." Kalia suggested, pulling out two pairs of protective goggles from her backpack. Poison and Grass-type Pokémon often use powder-based moves, and wearing goggles helps prevent getting the powders in the eyes. Encountering toxic powders could lead to severe consequences, potentially damaging one's vision if not careful. Therefore, taking adequate safety measures is essential.
Lian accepted the black goggles and placed them on his head, feeling quite cool and stylish.
"Looks pretty sharp," Kalia commented with a faint smile as she observed Lian wearing the black goggles.
"Be cautious; watch out for spores on the ground, avoid getting any on your body," Uncle Bobby reminded them. He positioned Sandslash to lead the way while keeping vigilant of their surroundings, guarding against potential ambushes by hidden Pokemon.
Spores are microscopic particles, resembling dust but slightly larger. They are difficult to see with the naked eye, yet Parasect scatters them throughout the forest. Some spores are toxic, others cause paralysis, and some induce sleepiness in both humans and Pokemon. Encountering these spores in the wilderness can be highly problematic.
As they ventured deeper into the mushroom forest, shortly after entering, they encountered numerous Paras-like creatures resembling crabs.
Paras, similar to Parasect, differ primarily due to the dominance of insect traits, classifying them as larvae. The yellow-spotted red mushrooms on their backs have not fully matured yet.
Once the red mushrooms grow sufficiently and absorb enough nutrients, they take control of the entire body, shifting dominance from the insect to the mushroom, leading to evolution into Parasect.
Generally, Paras and Parasect are not highly aggressive Pokemon. However, the creatures within this mushroom forest exhibit noticeable hostility, as several Paras cautiously approach them.
"Charizard, avoid using Fire-type moves," Kalia cautioned. Utilizing fire in such dense woods could easily spark a wildfire. This mushroom forest belongs to Holan City; accidentally setting it ablaze would result in massive damage that even selling everything Kalia owns wouldn't suffice to compensate for.
Lian nodded, then focused on the approaching Paras. He swiftly conjured an Air Cutter and sent it slicing through the air. With Flying-type attacks quadruple effective against Grass- and Bug-types, these Paras stood no chance. Lian's Air Cutter effortlessly cut them in half.
He was somewhat speechless - they died so quickly, remarkably fragile. Yet, it seemed reasonable considering these wild Pokemon had low levels. Using his Flying-type move, Air Cutter, with quadruple effectiveness, exceeded their tolerance threshold, causing instant fatal injuries.
Despite his intentions not to kill these Pokemon, Lian switched strategies and opted for Dragon Pulse, which dealt only one times normal damage. Although still capable of defeating them instantly, it wouldn't result in their demise. Temporarily incapacitating them with unconsciousness sufficed.